Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Approves Largest Residential Development in Tysons

June 4, 2013

News Highlights

The Commons is the largest residential development in Tysons to
date—with up to 2,571 apartments in seven high-rise apartment
building.

The project is the first that's almost purely residential—and the
project will be a minimum of 98 percent residential.

Creating more housing is key to the stratety to transform Tysons
into an urban center where people live—as well as work, shop and
play.

With up to 2,571 apartments spread across seven high-rises, the
largest new residential development in Tysons to date got a green
light to move forward. The project is also the first that’s almost
purely residential.

The Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors approved developer LCOR’s plan to transform the
almost 21-acre site that’s home to the Commons apartments now. When
built out, the new development—which will continue to be called the
Commons — will offer seven times more apartments than the 331-unit
complex today. It also will provide more affordable housing units
than exist currently.

At its June 4,
meeting, the board also signed off on a final development plan
for the project’s first building. At the corner of Anderson Road
and Colshire Meadow Drive, this new 331-unit building will reach up
to 15 stories.

About 80 percent of the development will be a quarter to a third
of mile from the future McLean Metro Station, the eastern most
Silver Line stop in Tysons. The Commons also will be near the
recently approved Scotts
Run South development.

Compared to the projects approved for Tysons so far, LCOR’s will
build the most housing. To date, these developments will build up to
the following number of residential units:

LCOR is approved to build up to 2.62 million square feet. Of this
total, LCOR may include 50,000 square feet of retail or commercial
uses, although it has not committed to do so. The overall project
will be 98 percent residential even if it includes any retail
or commercial space.

Housing is key to the strategy to transform Tysons. To
complete the make over from suburban office park to urban center,
Tysons must be place where people live—as well as work, shop and
play.

Today, the area is home to about 17,000 residents compared to about
105,000 jobs. The ratio of jobs per household is 11.3 to 1, and the
county’s plans call for a more balanced jobs-to-housing ratio of 4 to
1 in the future.

The Commons includes many features that move forward
Fairfax County’s goal to turn Tysons into a walkable, environmentally
friendly, 24/7 urban center, including:

Parks: The Commons will provide more than 9 acres of
urban parks on site, including a full-size athletic field
and park with recreational areas. Goodman Field will be a
lighted, synthetic turf field, along with seating overlooking the
field. This 3.43-acre facility is located along Colshire Drive
between Andersen Road in the north and East Drive in the south. It
will be completed by no later than December 2035. The second park
will be 4.35-acre facility on the east side of Anderson Road. It
will feature two asphalt basketball courts, two sand volleyball
courts, play areas for smaller children and teenagers, and two
fenced-in, off-leash dog parks (one for small dogs and one for
larger dogs).

Universal Design: At least 10 percent of the apartments
will include Universal Design features, such as no-step
entries.These features make homes fit everyone at every stage and
situation in life.

Green Building: LCOR will pursue LEED Certification
for its residential buildings or certification under another green
building rating system. In each parking garage, it will include at
least one electric vehicle charging station that can serve two
cars. LCOR also will look at incorporating bird-friendly design
features into its buildings.

Workforce Housing: Following the county’s goal for Tysons,
20 percent of the total units will be affordable for a total of up
to 471 units.

Except for the first building that the board approved, LCOR will
construct its six other buildings over time based on market demand.

The first building will be composed of three segments in a “U”
shape, and they will rise in height from 10 to 15 stories. Four of
the existing garden-style apartments will be torn down, along with
part of the parking lot, to make room for this first building. LCOR
also will install a temporary 1.5-acre open space that will include a
trail to the McLean Metro Station.

To honor the history of the Commons, LCOR will include
interpretive signs throughout the new development about the site,
its original design and architect Charles Goodman. Furthermore,
LCOR will photograph and video the buildings and grounds, and this
historical documentation will be given to the library’s Virginia Room.

Under the county’s transformation
plan, Tysons Corner will become a green, walkable urban
center—Fairfax’s “downtown.” By 2050, Tysons will be home to up to
100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs.